Familiarize yourself with cataracts in infants as soon as possible

Is cataract synonymous with disease in the elderly? Certainly not. Cataracts in infants can also occur. Usually this happens in babies born with congenital cataracts.

Learn more about cataracts in infants.

4 causes of cataracts in infants

Babies are very likely to be born with cataracts. In medical terms, this is called congenital cataract. This condition occurs when the lens is not formed properly during pregnancy.

Depending on the age of the cataract, there are two types of cataracts, namely congenital and adolescent. Congenital cataracts can develop before or soon after the baby is born. Adolescent cataracts can occur in children between the ages of three months and nine years.

Apart from congenital cataracts, there are several other factors that cause cataracts in infants:

chromosome problems (as in children with Down syndrome)
eye injury
offspring of parents who make the lens grow abnormally
infections experienced by pregnant women, such as rubella and chicken pox

Can we prevent cataracts in infants?

Because the main cause of cataracts is hereditary or innate, prevention is needed, especially in mothers.

Before pregnancy, make sure that the mother has received all the vaccines so that she is protected from infections such as chicken pox.

This method can reduce the chance of giving birth to a baby with cataracts in the eye.

Can cataracts in infants be detected early?

When a newborn baby is born, it is not easy to detect the presence or absence of cataracts. That is why, in 72 hours before birth, the baby's eyes continue to be checked regularly.

The faster the cataract is detected, the faster we can act. In addition to a thorough examination by a doctor, cataracts in infants can be seen in the form of white or gray spots on the eye pupils.

The most important thing is to always check the child's eyes regularly because he can not communicate clearly when vision is blurred.

In addition, the age of four months is an easier time to detect cataracts in infants. At this age, babies can already see around them and follow the movements of objects with their eyes.

If the baby cannot do it right, see a doctor immediately.

Should we have cataracts?

Surgery to cure cataracts in the elderly and infants. Is surgery absolutely necessary?

Not always. If the cataract is very small and has no effect on the baby's vision, then there is no need to operate, but if the cataract interferes with vision, the doctor will perform the operation. The process is short, even the baby can go home the same day.

What happens after surgery?

Babies and children are extraordinary characters. They can adapt quickly even after surgery. Children can resume normal life after surgery.

Maybe in some cases, after surgery, the child will feel itching in the eyes.

But calm down. The earlier cataracts in babies are detected, the faster you can take the right steps. In general, cataract operations in infants and children are also performed with a low risk of complications.

Eyes play an important role in telling any brain in the world. Cataracts can inhibit this process.

By detecting the first cataract, you not only save vision, but also its future.